veil Books

The bood was interesting with some humor added. However, Deb exposed the woman to danger while in and after leaving Afghanistan. Telling some of these stories, whether true or not has put the women in a place to be further persecuted. I feel she has used her 'western-ness' to the extreme in some cases that could have caused casualties. One can not go into another persons country (especially one you are clueless about) and start standing your ground on things most women would be beaten for. What saved her was the fact that she towered over everyone there. Having said that, I have a few questions. Why in the world would she refer to Afganistan as 'home'? As well as leave her kids to do hair in support of disaster relief? What is she really running from in the states? I feel she had low self esteem under that huge bleeding heart of hers. After everything witnessed, she goes and marries an Afghan? Lucky for her, he was nice. But did she ever question or suspect abuse of his other (Afghan) wives? She did not know this man, she did not know his family. Wow, unbelievable. I can go on and on, but I have one final question? Where are all of these women today? How many did she really help? Or will this become a meer memory of what it could be like for women over there.

In 2002, Deborah Rodriguez ventured off to Afghanistan with Care for All Foundation, an emergency and disaster relief organization. She knew nothing really about emergency and disaster relief--she is a hairdresser by trade. But she had a generous and brave spirit. When all the doctors and nurses had gone, she stayed behind to to build a beauty school and salon (something the Taliban had outlawed). She encountered the Taliban, women in arranged marriages, bombings, cultural divides--and all with great humor and grace. This was not only enlightening, but fun to read.

I highly recommend this book. Some may say that Rodrigues gave herself too much credit for what others have done. But I have to admit, that I for one would never go to Kabul. So regardless of how much she did, or did not achieve, she was there, and we weren't. To be a woman in a repressive society is beyond difficult, it's torturous. I applaud her courage, and her determination to initiate change in a world where women's voices are meaningless. I wish the best for the women of Kabul, and for the few good men there who help them in their way.

TV and news reviews make war feel distant, un-human and entirely male-centered. This book beautifully captures a glimpse of Afghan life. Every page was enlightening and touching in the same way. Written in a refreshingly simple way, this book allowed me to think about complex issues in a digestible (and dare I say, whimsical) manner.

I enjoyed this book very much. It gave a look into the lives of Afghan women trying to make a positive step in their lives, sometimes when their husbands couldn't provide. They took it upon them selves to take a step toward financial independance for themselves and their families.

What was a bit contradictory, perhaps, was how Debbie Rodriguez mentions a few times that the Afghan people were the warmest and most endearing people, however, it seems like most of her students and women there in general were being beaten by their husbands. It seemed every time she brought it up, somebody was getting beaten. So what's the deal?? Are the people only nice to women outside their families, or did she miss something in her writing to differenciate the two.

I read Princess the first time many years ago and was very intriged by it. It also made me look into Islam and I can say today I am a Muslim. I read the book again recently and did not find it as good. What must be said is that a lot of horrible things that happened in that book were culture and *not* Islam. (I will also say that Saudi is not a good example of a Islamic country.)

Other than that issue I think it's a good read. Just don't read too much into it. If you really want to get a look into life in Saudi there are Saudi feminist bloggers on the net. That would give you a better view than this book.

I first read this book when I was 16, and I loved it. It is a work of non-fiction, and based on a true story of a Saudi Arabian princess and her family. She opens up about the injustices the women of Saudi suffer (sexism, FGM, favoritism, not having a say in one's marriage, how society turns a blind eye to abusive husbands, and how she supports a woman's right to freedom.) It is an empowering read, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

It also has 2 sequels, "Daughters of Arabia" and "Desert Royal" which are equally stirring and totally worth the buy if you like "Princess". The sequels are tough to find at a library, though.

I read this when I was high school and was shocked and appalled at how those poor Middle Eastern women live. Now grown, I have Middle Eastern female friends who laugh their head off at this book. Perhaps some of the incidents that are related happened, but I highly doubt they happened to the same person. It's like if someone from Saudi Arabia came here and wrote a book, "Senator's Daughter" or something. The girl was sexually abused starting at age 3, starved by her mother so she wouldn't get fat, pressured into sexually servicing the football team. The father has affairs with both women and men, is a pedophile, and likes to torture cats. The mother is a beaten-down woman who undergoes dozens of plastic surgery procedures and ends up locked in an insane asylum. Have these incidents, separately, happened to American females? Yes. Are they representative of American women, or senator's daughters? Nope. I suspect Jean Sasson did something similar, and it completely destroys any argument she was trying to make! A fun read, but don't take it as gospel.

The author relates the story of Sultana, a Princess of Saudi Arabia, from childhood to adulthood. We see Sultana's life of unimaginable luxury with palaces, servants, and jewels but, alas, being a female she is a prisoner in her home, subject to the iron will of her father and brother.

This is a good story, but I took it as a fictional story. I never once believed that Sultana was real and that she told these stories. I know the cruelties described in the book exist, but I think "Sultana" is a combination of many nameless Saudi women. Had the author not tried to present this as a memoir but just factually reported the officially-sanctioned abominations that women endure there, I would have liked it better. She tried to manipulate me into feeling pity for the poor little rich girl with tedious and amateurish fiction. None of it rang true.

The author lived in Saudi Arabia for ten years; I would have rather read an account of her experiences than this phony-sounding autobiography. It's right to expose these injustices but the truth is enough; there's no need to embellish it with trumped-up characters.

For a moving and much better-written story of women behind the veil, I recommend A Thousand Splendid Suns.

I read this book without regard to ethnicity or political belief. I read it as a woman -- as a human being who suffered at the thought of what other women are enduring in the name of "religion" or "culture."

There is no explanation possible to make this palatable to anyone with a conscience. To let it pass without mention is an abomination, akin to denying the Holocaust. There is no justification possible in the eyes of God.

To the perpetrators of this inhumanity to women, I can only promise you that God is watching. Any other comment on these perpetrators is superfluous.

Having lived in several countries, I found this book appealing, but reading it left a pit in my stomach. There is no way that anybody can learn English as quickly as the heroine of this book did. It's also far from accurate that life works out well for foreigners. In reality, because it's impossible to learn the language and how to function well in a foreign country (especially in 3 months), foreigners almost always get the short end of the stick. I fear that Americans reading this book will develop a lack of empathy and willingness to work with foreigners. The truth is that we need to be sensitive to the differences of others, allowing room for differences in cultures. We need to work harder to communicate with them, because communication requires the effort of both parties involved - it is not the sole responsibility of the non-native speaker to learn English "better". We need to help them when we find them overwhelmed by a situation or process that we are familiar with. I wish the book would promote values such as these, instead of a false belief that foreigners come to the US to make their dreams come true.

I bought this book about a year ago, and read it about a year ago, and I'm going to be diggging it out and reading it again pretty quickly here!

I've always been fascinated by the lives of Middle Eastern women. I am a veteran of OIF, and I remember talking to some of the women over in Iraq about what their lives are like. This book is very enlightening into the lifestyle and mind of a Middle Eastern woman, and it's very entertaining. The love story is sweet and touching.

This is a heartwarming story that reminds us of the simple freedoms we take for granted in America. Tami is a 27 year old Iranian woman who comes to America on a 3 month visa with the intention of finding a husband. As she experiences freedom for the first time, you will become aware of freedoms you never realized were that big of a deal. It was a quick, enjoyable read that leaves you feeling fortunate to have been born in America.

I was fascinated by this emotionally engaging story, which was surprisingly breezy to read despite its heavy subject manner. The author did an excellent job of presenting the Persian experience in contrast to life in America. Tamila was a well-draw character, with lots of warmth and depth, and the secondary cast of supporting characters provided added interest and some humor/quirkiness. At times, the book read like chick-lit! The inter-personal relationships are very well-presented.

Unless I misunderstood something, Tami was born in America and lived here until she was two years old. That makes her an American citizen, so there's no need to marry an American to stay in this country, which makes the basis for the plot non-existent. Regardless, this is still a well-told story about a woman who learns to adapt to a new society that is very different from the one she was raised in without losing the true essence of herself in the process.

Excellent story that can really make someone reexamine their life and realise how lucky they are. Very inspiring story.

I felt as though I were in the same room with Sylvia rather than reading a book.Sylvia is always amazing but this is THE best Spiritually conective work I think I'm ever likely to read!"Temple" is fresh,helpful & exceedingly interesting.

Awesome.Now i know what to expect when i go home.I couldn't put the book down until i finished, because you want to know what is next. I can picture Heaven in my mind.This is a must read.

I absolutely LOVE that Sylvia Brown rebukes fear-based religious beliefs and reassures us that it is all hogwash! Her down to earth style coupled with the knowledge she receives from her spirit guide Francine continues to provide us with incredible word pictures of the beyond and reassures us of the hereafter being a real place, just 3 feet above our world where we live now.

Sally Shields, TheDILRules.com

I loved this book. Anything Sylvia Browne writes about the other side engulfs me fully and grounds me in a wonderful way. By reading one chapter each night about a different temple, I was able to fully digest tihe information and use it to explore my own spirituality and path. I felt as if I had undergone a healing session each day. It was wonderful. Not only do you get the information, you also get an angelic boost. I don't say that in a hokey way, I really mean it. It's as if the information washes over you so you can integrate it into your personal existence. Having had my own experiences with the Hall of Records, etc., it was great to utilize the other avenues available. Sylvia Browne's information has changed my life forever. I'd recommend any of her books about the Other Side and then go from there. Fortunately for all of us, she is very prolific. Treat yourself to a Sylvia Browne book today!

First off, let me say that the whole reason I bought a DVR was to record Sylvia Browne on the days she is on the Montel show. I find her gift extraordinary when it comes to bringing insight, and people's past come to life. I have seen the faces of many people when she has help them with her gift. I have even enjoyed several of her books, as I have reviewed them in the past. With that being said, this book was not my personal favorite.

Honestly my issues with this book mainly lie in the Judeo-Christian heritage that I have been brought up in. If you are looking for a more Judeo-Christian slant on what heaven is like, I would suggest Randy Alcorn's Heaven book. This book describes temples and a heaven that I haven't found in my past learnings. I feel that her book often describes heaven as we may want it to be in an ideal world. We all want to believe and know that we will be reunited with our past family, friends, and pets once we have gone onto the afterlife.

I found some of this material recycled from her past books, and that it did not have enough originality to make it worth me reading. Once again, I have enjoyed Sylvia Browne a great deal throughout many years, and I will continue to watch her, an pick up her books. This book simply seemed to implausible to me to enjoy the read.

The Painted Veil is a moving book, offering details that the movie, as is usual, does not. However, I think this is one of the few times that seeing the movie actually complements Somerset Maugham's book. There are a few differences. For instance, in the book the Fane's begin their married life in Hong Kong; in the movie it is Shanghai. Overall, the movie brings warmth and color to the story.

The story begins with the very unlikable Kitty Fane. She is selfish, vain, and is bored with her husband. After an adulterous affair, Kitty travels with her husband to an area stricken by cholera.

Kitty begins to work in the nearby convent while the nuns nurse those stricken with the disease. During this time, Kitty attempts to repair her broken marriage. Just when she begins to make amends, tragedy strikes. Kitty is left alone to face her demons.

I enjoyed watching Kitty's character evolve throughout the story. I first noticed the change when she began embracing the orphans in her care instead of being repulsed by them. She begins to understand that, in the face of so much suffering, her problems are very small. Kitty begins to empathize with others and make better choices. In the end, Kitty is stronger than she realizes and her tragedy is really the beginning of a new life.

I was captivated from the first page to the last.

The Painted Veil pits amiable but unscrupulous fools against tormented souls, has a duly sarcastic starting-point, and is set in far-away, warlord-era China; in short, it has the ingredients for vintage Maugham.

The book begins in Hong Kong, with an adultery scene. Kitty Fane is beautiful, shallow, and calculating. She soon finds her match in Charles Townsend, a vain and cynical but popular colonial official - and in her own husband, the lover's very photo-negative, who drags her through plague-ridden country in revenge. The story is that of her spiritual transformation. It can even be read to show women's superior ability for moral elevation.

The Painted Veil is full of Maugham's innumerable human insights, and it is filled with danger, physical and psychological. This is an easy to read, absorbing novel. Readers expecting lush visions of warlord-era China to jump from the page, though, will need to look in another place. The "native" country is distant, dream-like and morbid, seen through the eyes of the heroine, whose preoccupations are elsewhere. It is only peered at from the height of a curtained palanquin. Indeed, the novel paints the superficial and self-centred expatriate community of Hong-Kong much more than it does labouring China; as such, it probably remained true to life until very recent times.

After her husband discovers her adulterous affair, Kitty is forced to accompany him to a cholera-infested city of mainland China. Surrounded by death, Kitty recognizes her own poor character and undergoes a personal transformation. As her husband works to eradicate the cholera epidemic from dawn to dusk every day, Kitty is left with plenty of time for self-reflection. Eventually, she learns the benefits of hard work and comes to terms with her marriage. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The story was quick-paced, and I connected with the strong female protagonist, especially after she gained insight into her prior shallowness. I can see why some consider this book to be a feminist work. I also enjoyed the complex relationship between Kitty and her husband. I only wish Maugham had used his exotic settings (Hong Kong and then mainland China) to more effect. Interestingly, this novel has been adapted for the screen three times (in 1934, 1957, and 2006). Read this one.

I saw the movie first and loved it, then went out bought the book and read it. Hated the book!!!! It was nothing like the movie, relationships that you thought would be described better in the book did not even exist! If you have seen the movie and love it don't read the book it will ruin your experience. However, if you have not yet seen the movie then you will probablly enjoy the book.

I am an avid reader of science fiction, fantasy, romance and historical novels. I found this entire series to be exceptional. I am an adult and these seemed to be written for a younger generation but I could not put these books down!

If you would like some light fantasy reading that is different from many of the books out there, then this is for you.

Tal and Milla have successfully returned from Aenir and infiltrated the Castle. They are hidden with a group of renegade Underfolk, who call themselves Freelies. Milla leaves to complete her quest by going to the Shield Mother, which is easier said than done. When she is wounded, she forces herself into the tenth Rokvir breathing pattern, one which will get the user to the end of their task, and then the user will die. She is attacked by a Shield Maiden because of her unnatural shadow, Odris, and ends up slaying her to continue on her journey. When she finally gets there, she must be revived. If the Shield Mothers cannot, Milla will die. Meanwhile, Tal and Crow, a Freelie leader, are climbing the Red Tower, when suddenly they penetrate the Veil and Crow falls because of the Sun's sudden light. What will become of them? Read Garth Nix's book, Above the Veil!

My favorite part of this book was the part where Tal and Crow were getting the Red Keystone with the Guardian, Lokar, trapped in it. Every triumph for Tal was a triumph for the reader, and this, even if it was a medium-paced book, was still quite exciting and interesting. I hope that you enjoy this book!

Tal and Milla have successfully infiltrated the Castle. They are hidden with a group of renegade Underfolk, who call themselves Freelies. Milla leaves to complete her quest, by going to the Shield Mother. Easier said than done describes it best. When she is wounded, she forces herself into the tenth Rokvir breathing pattern, one which will get the user to the end of their task, and then the user will die. She is attacked by a Shield Maiden, and ends up slaying her to continue on her journey. When she gets there, finally, she must be revived. If the Shield Mothers cannot, Milla will die. Meanwhile, Tal and Crow are climbing the Red Tower, when suddenly, they penetrate the Veil and Crow falls, because of the Sun's sudden light. What will become of them? Read Garth Nix's book, Above the Veil!

My favorite part of this book was the part where Tal and Crow were getting the Red Keystone with Lokar trapped in it. Every triumph for Tal was a triumph for the reader, and this, even if it was a medium-paced book, was still quite exciting and interesting. I hope that you enjoy this book!

Things get more intense in "Above the Veil," a pivotal point in Garth Nix's Seventh Tower series. New alliances are forged, new information is found, and the endangered Milla takes the biggest risk of her life. While not quite the most gripping, this book hints at future apocalyptic events further on in the series.

Tal and Milla have just returned to Aenir, and end up falling in with a group of rebel Underfolk, who are determined to rise above the nasty caverns where they live. He also finds Jarnil, a blinded Chosen who was thought to be dead, and the ringleader of the rebels. With his help -- and the discovery that the Codex is wandering around the Castle.

Elsewhere. Milla leaves the Castle to return to the Icecarls. Since she now has a Spiritshadow, she knows that they will kill her. However, the Crones come to a decision about Milla that will change their culture forever. And at the Castle, Tal and the belligerent Underfolk Crow uncover the secrets of the Keystones -- a secret guarded by the inhuman Sushin.

"Above the Veil" is one of those books that serves mainly to set up the action of future novels. Garth Nix's creepy fantasy elements and taut writing keep it from being one long boring infodump. And by the ending, some very important events have taken place.

Nix also reveals more about the Underfolk, and their lives as semi-slaves under the Castle, as well as the natural resentment they have toward the privileged Chosen. Nix's intense writing is well-suited to scenes like Milla being attacked by a fellow Icecarl, or our heroes being attacked by venomous water spiders. There are a few moments of comedy, usually from Uncle Ebbitt, but not many.

Tal and Milla have both changed dramatically. Tal has already learned to appreciate the warlike Icecarls, and now he has to accept the Underfolk, which he always took for granted. Milla also has grown up, although her sense of honor and loyalty is unchanged. Crow isn't nearly as likable -- he's even more bigoted than Tal was originally. But Nix makes it understandable why that is.

The fourth Seventh Tower book, "Above the Veil," begins the buildup to the final battle of the series. Epic, creepy and pivotal.

If you've been following the series this one will be impossible to put down. The plot intensifies, Tal's problems continue to spiral out of control, and the consequences of even one mistake on his part could spell doom for his world.

Tal and Milla seperate early in the book, and Tal is the main focus through most of it, which means loads of character development for him. The author writes each character, though particulerly Tal in this book, not as a thirteen year old boy, but as a human being, caught in frightening events, and handed burdons that seem impossible to bear. Thus, every time Tal triumphs, it seems a triumph to the reader as well, rather than a predictable outcome.

But, despite the excellently developed characters, this book is mainly about action and plot, which is written just as well. Definitely read this series from the beginning, and you won't regret it when you do. :-)

This is an interesting and educational explanation of what it means to be Muslim. If you are ready to leave the media stereotypes behind and truly get insight into a world religion with billions of followers, this is the book to read. I highly recommend it. Growing up as a Muslim American, I can finally recommend a book that explains, with sensitivity and intelligence, to my friends that Islam is not a religion of hate and intolerance, but a religion of peace.

I could not put this book down and managed to read it in two days despite being the mother of a newborn! I appreciate the author's clarifications of which practices are rooted in the Qur'an and which are merely cultural practices that have been mistakenly attributed to Islam. Once you understand that there is a difference, it's easy to see that an individual can successfully be both a Muslim and an American. This book is well-researched, but that doesn't mean it's boring. This book was a joy to read and I have already recommended it to many friends

For an extremely informative, open, friendly, down-to-earth, real, heart-warming, fun journey into Islam and being Muslim in America, you MUST read The Muslim Next Door!

There is a growing body of literature that aims to introduce Islam to Americans. Some of the best include Karen Armstrong's "Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet", Michael Sells' "Approaching the Qur'an: The early revelations", and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's "What's Right with Islam is What's Right With America." Sumbul Ali-Karamali's book is different from these other titles in that it written in an engaging style that feels like you are sitting down with the author over a cup of tea to talk about faith. Written out of her personal experience as an American Muslim woman, the author gets to the heart of the questions and concerns that many Americans have about Islam, a religion that is too little understood. This book goes along way in helping to bridge the gap of misunderstanding that exits in the minds of too many Americans about the religion of Islam.

...that an informative book about Islam can be funny? For once, its true. Reading this book made me chuckle while I learned about Islam and Muslims. Hard to put down!

This is a very moving and heart stirring true account of how God moved on young children in an orphanage in China. It's amazing!

Oh my goodness... this book is precious and made me soooo hungry for more, more, more of God!

My wife and I found this book to be very exciting as it depicts how orphan children in China where provided with a home in an orphanage; how they were fed and clothes and taken care of. This - in and of itself - is a dynamic testimony of how Jesus Christ brings victory into the lives of these children. However, their experience of seeing visions and dreams of Heaven, of God, of Jesus and of angels is one to be envied. We strongly encourage you to read this book. You will not be able to put it down.
Sincerely, Rev. Richard and Holly Lang

This is an essential read for those who want more of God.

Story of these Chinese orphans who experience a radical outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The book documents their experiences and visions which will stretch your brain and wreck your heart.

It's a short read that should be in all believers libraries.

I rate this book very high as it offers hope for the Christian and even greater hope for the Christian missionaries. H.A. Baker's journal account of what the children in his orphanage experienced just confirms many of the testimonies of others in different parts of the world, even as recent as 2007. God is alive and He still reigns! Books like Visions Beyone the Veil are inspiring to motivate anyone with a desire, to Ask, Seek and Knock knowing that God will answer, you will find and He will open the door to understanding.

I started reading about Kryon when the first book came out. I have remained a fan and have read every book and channeling throughout the years. Kryon offers a positive message of hope that helps the reader to make sense of the chaos in the world and still remain optimistic about the future. I consider myself to be what he calls a "lightworker" striving to make the world a better place. His books have been like a shining beacon to help me on my spiritual path.

I felt like I had come home when I read this book. I have a friend who has read all of the Kryon material and said that she quit her Zen Buddhism practice of 25 years after she read this first book, but I still wasn't impressed enough to read even one of them. I figured it was some new age BS. So, while I was killing time at the local library, I found this one in among their new books and picked it up. It is SO compelling, the message that Kryon gives. And the message is that we ALL are in this together (all religions, all peoples), and we all are here because we have a job to do, to be "Lighthouses." I'll let other reviewers discuss that more, but what I have to tell you is that my constant worry (OMG, what do I think about the war in Iraq? OMG why did the Tsunami happen? OMG, what was the reason for 9-11? OMG, what about this drought, and will we have to sell off all our cows? Worry, worry, worry. I've been good at worrying), anyway, all of the worry just went away. I felt as if I had been spoken to by a higher power and told that it was all okay. So I read parts of this book to my daughter, who is living in LA and hates it there and is constantly worried about the fires, the floods, etc., but is trying to work in the music business, and her quiet response was, and remains, weeks later, "Mom, I've quit worrying." Anyway, I highly recommend this book.

Lifting the Veil: The New Energy Apolocalypse (Kryon)
This book is Book 11 in the Kryon Series. If you are wondering about all the changes happening on our planet with our weather, the status in the East and Iran, why you are here, this book will give you a different prespective on things.

If you are wondering about the here and now and your purpose for being on Planet Earth at this time consider reading all of the Kryon Books; it will give you ideas for thinking differently. Bottom line is you make up your own mind.

I have read all of the 10 Kryon Books and am presently reading Book 11. I look forward to the next one coming out.

This was the second Kryon book I read, directly following "Letters From Home", Book 7. I found this book to be a tad condescending to anyone already familiar with this type of prospective. It's hard to explain why, but it seems like this book was written/channeled more for the beginner... or for the Jews.
This book emphasized a lot on the Jews, their situation, and sending light to Jerusalem. There are a lot of current events mentioned as well, such as 9/11, the war in Iraq, and all the happenings in the holy land. Kryon tells us that these are all spiritual events and that we are on the right path and based on the potentials in 2005 (When most channellings took place), we are still doing well.
I recommend this book to everyone. It gives a lot of insight into what is going on in the world, what 2012 means, and who you really are.